Rhetoric and Argument in the Everyday World
AP Language – Out of class activity/assignment
DUE 9/26 at the START OF CLASS!
You are to visit and take a rhetorical tour of a local grocery/department store such as Best Buy, Fred Meyer, Home Depot, or QFC. Maybe IKEA or Target sounds more interesting. Just select a well known store, convenient to you, that plays a significant role in our community, and spend 30 minutes taking it all in. You may work alone or in small groups of no more than three students.
Your assignment is a rhetorical analysis of the store as a whole and also its many parts.
On your tour, take notice of the following:
- signs and banners that are posted
- layout of the store from the front door to the back wall
- brochures, newsletters, advertisements, or any other available printed material
- organization of aisles
- seasonal displays
- placement of items on shelves
- location of employees
- apparel worn by employees
- lighting, flooring, ceiling, exterior of building, parking area
- different departments or sections of the store used by customers
Questions to Ponder in your Analysis: How does the store want to portray itself? What arguments/messages are they trying to convey? How effectively do the many aspects of the store combine to convey their arguments? How does the store appeal to you as an audience? Is the store attempting to use any logical fallacies on their customers? Are the fallacies working?
Part One (10 points): On a blank sheet of paper draw and label a rhetorical triangle describing how the store attempts to appeal to ethos, pathos, and logos. You may want to do this while at the store. Please be thorough. Attach this to your essay. (If working in a small group, each student createstheir own triangle.)
Part Two (25 points): Compose a thesis driven rhetorical analysis (1 ½ pages max. double spaced) in which you address some or all of the topics above. Determine the arguments created through the visual elements in the story. Please include a discussion of relevant fallacies as a part of your analysis. (If working in a small group – each student must write their own essay.)
Questions to Ponder in your Analysis: How does the store want to portray itself? What arguments/messages are they trying to convey? How effectively do the many aspects of the store combine to convey their arguments? How does the store appeal to you as an audience? Is the store attempting to use any logical fallacies on their customers? Are the fallacies working?
Part Three (25 points): Visually display your analysis of the rhetoric / arguments presented by the store. You may create a collage, creatively display photos of your experience, draw sketches of particular areas of interest, create a short film, display findings on a chart or graph, draw a to scale model of part or all of the store while labeling areas of interest, do something with advertisements, or use another idea that creatively and appropriately conveys your analysis of the store’s rhetoric and arguments. (Small groups may combine efforts on their visual).
Be respectful of all customers and employees. Avoid drawing any undue attention to yourself or appearing like you are loitering. Do not be a nuisance in any way!